We aren't surprised that Pat's Drive-In took the most votes in our Food Fight asking who sells the best-tasting hot dogs in town.
Aside from El Guero Canelo, the South-Side-born Sonoran hot dog haven, no other frank-making joint in Tucson holds the clout that Pat's does.
Henry "Pat" Patterson opened the first Pat's on North Church Avenue and West Congress Street in 1955. At the height of its popularity, there were four locations throughout the city.
Today, the only Pat's left is on North Grande Avenue between West Speedway and West St. Mary's Road.
Patterson sold that branch in Barrio Hollywood to his employee Carlos Hernandez in 1979. The Hernandez family has held the spot ever since.
The greasy meals served at Pat's, particularly its chili dogs, makes the old-school drive-in a destination for nostalgic Tucsonans, neighborhood regulars and new generations of Old Pueblo-dwellers looking for a cheap meal.
Lila Sorenson, a 44-year-old buyer for the University of Arizona, said Pat's chili-cheese dogs are "a perfect blend of mild chili with onions and mustard that melts in your mouth with each delightful bite."
She added, "Never wear white when you are visiting Pat's. It's messy but so good."
Gregory DeNinno discovered Pat's while attending the University of Arizona in the '80s.
"They have the best chili dogs ever," said the mechanical engineer. "And you have to love their definition of 'small' size fries. It's well worth the drive from my home on the far East Side."
Jose Martinez used to hit Pat's with his twin brother and cousin when they were kids.
"The Family Special (four chili dogs or hamburgers with a large box of fries) was so good then and even better now that I live in Southern California," said Martinez, 51. "When I come back to visit, it's Pat's first, then Eegee's, and on the way out of town, Lucky Wishbone."
Less decisive people split their votes between Pat's and Guero Canelo.
Barbara Brewer chose both, saying Sonoran dogs and chili dogs were different animals.
"They are both equally addictive in their own way," she said. "They're both 'must-haves' when you're in their respective neighborhoods, and sometimes worth going out of your way for when you are not."
Bob Lenon, a water systems operator, also listed both but seemed partial to Guero Canelo's Sonoran dog.
"It is good enough that it might be illegal in some states," he said.
Some Food Fight participants shied away from the regular favorites.
Nicholas Raspanti calls Spokane, Wash., home these days, but he made Luke's Italian Beef on South Alvernon Way a regular stop for hot dogs when he lived here.
"They make me miss Chicago and Tucson," Raspanti, 39, said. "My girlfriend and I would go to Luke's on a weekly basis because we know they had the real taste of authentic Chicago food. Everything on the menu is amazing."
Sean Draper nominated Southwest Desert Dogs, a mobile hot dog stand set up daily at 5214 E. Pima St.
"Southwest Desert Dogs is the place for the best Sonoran-style or Polish in Tucson," said Draper, 36. "I have eaten at probably 30 stands and theirs is the best I've had. They also have a nice deck where I can sit back and eat."
Brad Myers put his vote in for Bruce Dogs, which holds court in the parking lot of Brake Masters at 5810 E. Speedway.
"It is kind of secret stand apparently," he said. "But it is easily the best in town. It has, by far the best chili, if you can handle it, and everything else you could want. People travel from outside of Tucson just for Bruce's."
And Mayor Bob Walkup became our first Twitter participant when he voted for his favorite hot dog spots.
"Mayor's two favorite hot dogs: Rockie dogs at Hi Corbett and the hot dogs right off the grill at the Midvale Park N'hood Annual Picnic," he Twittered.
• Pat's Drive-In, 1202 W. Niagara St.
• El Guero Canelo, 5201 S. 12th Ave. and 2480 N. Oracle Road.
• BK's Carne Asada and Hot Dogs, 5118 S. 12th Ave and 2680 N. First Ave.
• The original Luke's Italian Beef, 1615 S. Alvernon Way.
• Bruce Dogs, 5810 E. Speedway.
• Southwest Desert Dogs, 5214 E. Pima St.
